Things to do in Bodhgaya
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Original Pole-Pole
Opposite the Burmese Vihara on Bodhgaya Rd is the long-running and popular semi-tent restaurant Original Pole-Pole . It's pretty basic and has a varied but standard travellers' menu of breakfast fare, pancakes, pasta and Indian and Chinese, along with sweets such as chocolate-chip cookies or cinnamon rolls.
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Insight Meditation Retreats
Three nine-day vipassana meditation and spiritual inquiry retreats are held by Insight Meditation Retreats from 7 January to 6 February at the Thai Monastery. Space is limited so book ahead. From mid-November you can inquire at the Burmese Vihara between 15:00 and 16:00. Donations are requested.
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Mahabodhi Temple
The magnificent World Heritage-listed Mahabodhi Temple, where Buddha attained enlightenment and formulated his philosophy of life, forms the spiritual heart of Bodhgaya. Within the temple complex entrance is a bookshop with a range of Buddhist literature.
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Niranjana Public Welfare School
This school provides education for some 270 local children and runs an orphanage in Sujata Village. Donations, sponsorships and volunteers are welcome. Contact the curator Siddhartha Kumar.
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Gautam
Situated opposite the Burmese Vihara is this basic semi-tent affair with a sit-out garden. It offers a standard travellers menu and the banana pancakes are the best in town.
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Indosan Nipponji Temple
The different monasteries offer visitors a unique opportunity to peek into different Buddhist cultures and compare architectural styles. For example, the Indosan Nipponji Temple is an exercise in quiet Japanese understatement compared to its richly presented Bhutan neighbour. The most impressive is the Thai Monastery, a brightly coloured wat with shimmering gold leaf and manicured gardens. Meditation sessions are held here in the morning. The Tibetan KarmaTemple and Namgyal Monastery each contain large prayer wheels, and the brand new Tergar Monastery of the Karmapa (Black Hat sect) is a glory of Tibetan decorative arts. Other noteworthy monasteries include those from Chi…
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Root Institute for Wisdom Culture
The Root Institute for Wisdom Culture holds popular introductory 10-day meditation courses from late October to March that are useful for beginners. A requested donation of Rs. 7020 covers the course, accommodation and meals. Intermediate-level courses are also scheduled from December to February. The 6.45am 45-minute meditation session is open to all, and for a donation visitors are welcome to stay on for breakfast. Visit the website for other events.
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Tibetan Om Cafe
Lies within the western courtyard of Namgyal Monastery. It’s run by friendly Tibetans who know all about traveller hunger for momos (dumplings), pancakes, brown bread, pies and cakes. The food is cheap and superb, and you can loiter for as long as you like. For just Rs. 5 you can refill your water bottle with ‘well-boiled filter water’. A small shop here sells Tibetan items and clothing.
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Swagat Restaurant
This is a really good choice with an innovative menu of veg and non-veg dishes, such as mutton badam pasanda (mutton stuffed with almonds and cooked in an almond gravy), Portuguese-style fish and a creamy malai-kofta (fried cottage-cheese dumplings served in a spicy tomato and onion based gravy).
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Great Buddha Statue
A 25m-high Great Buddha Statue towers above a pleasant garden at the end of Temple St. The impressive monument was unveiled by the Dalai Lama in 1989, and is surrounded by 10 smaller sculptures of Buddha’s disciples. The statue is partially hollow and is said to contain some 20,000 bronze Buddhas.
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Sujata Children’s Welfare Foundation
Sujata works with local orphans and poor children, providing free education, clothing and medical care. You can sponsor a child through the organisation’s website, or volunteer with teaching skills and building projects at Sujata Village just outside Bodhgaya.
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Maitreya School
One of the largest and best-established school projects in Bodhgaya, Maitreya has over 500 students attending day and evening classes. As well as education, free uniforms, books, meals and health care are provided. You can sponsor a child for a year (US$240).
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Samanvay Ashram
This Gandhian ashram has been run for many years by Dwarko Sundrani, and works with disadvantaged village children, providing education, clothing and medicine. It is now also providing free eye operations. Volunteers are welcome to come and learn.
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Harri Om Cafe
At the northern end of the Kalachakra Maidan, this is the only place in Bodhgaya for real coffee. It also does good pasta and has Korean items on the menu, and while you wait you can get a body work-over in the massage centre.
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Mohammad’s Restaurant
A small tent restaurant behind the well-lit Fujia Green. OK, it’s not a flash joint, but it has some of the town’s best Indian food and those in the know flock to it. Mohammad also runs one of the temporary tent restaurants.
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Fujia Green
Another popular year-round tent restaurant, Fujia Green serves up wonderful Tibetan fare such as momos (dumplings), thukpas and thenthuks (types of noodle soup), as well as tasty chicken dishes.
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Siam Thai
This is a new restaurant serving some authentic Thai dishes. The walls are decorated with all the menu items you might consider, while an inscrutable and plump Buddha observes everything. Service is friendly and helpful.
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Archaeological Museum
The archaeological museum contains a small collection of local Buddha figures, but pride of place goes to part of the original granite railings and pillars rescued from the Mahabodhi Temple.
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Bodhgaya Vipassana Meditation Centre
Bodhgaya Vipassana Meditation Centre runs intensive 10-day vipassana courses twice each month throughout the year. The small compound is 4km west of town and runs on donations.
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International Meditation Centre
The courses at the International Meditation Centre are more informal and students can start and finish any time they choose, all year-round.
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Vishnu Restaurant
Opposite the park, a reliable travellers menu of Indian, Chinese, continental and Tibetan food. Cramped inside but there are shady tables out the front.
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Tibetan Refugee Market
The place to pick up winter woollens or textiles, and you’ll be helping the Tibetan community in exile. Elsewhere there are scores of souvenir stalls.
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Tergar Monastery
Tergar Monastery runs a variety of courses on Tibetan Buddhism and welcomes long-term qualified volunteer English teachers.
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Gautam Lassi Corner
This place serves up creamy lassis and juices. It is opposite Mahabodhi Temple.
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